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A steak set featuring Akita Yurigyu beef, known for its rich, savory flavor, April 4. (\u00a9Sankei\/Tomoaki Yatsunami)<\/p>\nJapan’s roadside stations, or michi-no-eki, have become destinations in their own right.<\/p>\n
Designated rest stops along ordinary roads, they offer free parking and toilets as well as information for travelers. Many also feature restaurants, shops selling local specialties, tourist facilities, hot springs and accommodation, making them hubs for local communities.<\/p>\n
At Roadside Rest Area Iwaki Akita-Umiyoko along National Route 7 in Yurihonjo, southwestern Akita Prefecture, visitors can enjoy a view of the sunset over the Sea of Japan from a hot spring, stay in an affordable cottage, and dine on Akita Yurigyu steak, a local brand of Wagyu beef.<\/p>\n
The Sea of Japan stretches out beyond the windows of the facility’s spacious bathing area. Toward evening, as the wind and waves die down, the sea takes on a calm, glassy appearance.<\/p>\n
Natural Hot Spring<\/p>\n
Even on cloudy days, the setting sun turns the clouds crimson as it approaches the horizon, becoming a deep red orb before slowly disappearing. On clear days, it casts a brilliant glow across the sky.<\/p>\n
Bathers, from children to the elderly, sit in the tubs or on chairs and gaze silently at the view. The setting sun casts a gentle glow on their faces.<\/p>\n
The facility’s natural hot spring has a large communal bath and an open-air bath. The water is a sodium chloride-rich saline spring with a slightly viscous texture. It is said to be beneficial for cuts, sensitivity to cold and fatigue.<\/p>\n
A 64-year-old man from Sendai said he visits the hot spring whenever he returns to the area because his wife’s parents live nearby.<\/p>\n
“I could see the sunlight stretching across the sea, but the view is even more impressive in summer,” he said.<\/p>\n
His 61-year-old wife also praised the facility.<\/p>\n
“It has 100% natural hot spring water, a sauna and a cold bath, all in such a great location and at a reasonable price,” she said.<\/p>\n
More than 360,000 people from inside and outside Akita Prefecture visited the roadside station in fiscal 2024, according to manager Satoshi Nojiri. About 85,000 of them used the hot spring.<\/p>\n
“People are pleased that the water warms them thoroughly and that they don’t get cold easily after leaving the bath,” Nojiri said.<\/p>\n
Summer Bookings Go Fast<\/p>\n
The hot spring is not the only attraction. Five wooden cottages with triangular roofs and 16 tent sites are located on the northern side of the facility.<\/p>\n
The cottages have a kitchen and dining area, two bedrooms with four beds in total, cooking utensils and balconies overlooking the ocean. Nightly rates are \u00a514,000 (about $90) to \u00a516,000.<\/p>\n
The tent sites have electrical outlets, a cooking area, coin-operated laundry facilities, toilets and coin-operated showers. They cost \u00a54,800 (about $31) to \u00a55,600 per night.<\/p>\n
Visitors can enjoy the sandy beach overlooking the expansive Sea of Japan or have barbecues on the grassy grounds. The facility is municipally operated, keeping accommodation costs relatively low. <\/p>\n
“It’s so popular that reservations for summer weekends fill up within seconds after bookings open 60 days in advance,” Nojiri said.<\/p>\n
After working up an appetite, visitors can head to Umiyoko Shokudo, the roadside station’s restaurant.<\/p>\n
A steak set featuring Akita Yurigyu beef, known for its rich, savory flavor, April 4. (\u00a9Sankei\/Tomoaki Yatsunami)<\/p>\n
Its most popular dish, the Umiyoko Seafood Rice Bowl, costs around \u00a52,500 ($16), depending on market prices. It comes piled with locally caught seafood.<\/p>\n
The restaurant also recommends its \u00a53,300 teppanyaki steak set, featuring 200 grams of Akita Yurigyu beef, a brand of black-haired Wagyu raised in the Chokai Highlands. The premium beef has a firm texture, and its rich juices spread across the palate with each bite.<\/p>\n
(Read the article in Japanese<\/a>.)<\/p>\n
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